Table



(No Model.)

J. H. MARTIN.

TABLE- No. 471,676. Patented Mar. 29, 1892.

WIZWZ'SSE'S [WEI/V201? Za'rdiiorngy we NORRIS vnsns co.. FHDYCl-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, n. c,

, UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH H. MARTIN, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,676, dated March 29, 1892.

Application filed June 19, 1891. Serial No. 396,816. (No model.)

to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates towcertain new and useful improvements in tables.

My improvements have reference to detachable legs for said table and clamping-sockets for said legs, have referencetoa special form of clamping-socket adapted to brace the sides of the table and adapted to open automatically for the insertion of the legs, have reference to a hinged-leaf support and gravitatiug locking means, and have reference to other points of detail hereinafter described and.

claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, on which like reference-letters indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 represents a cross-section of a portion of a table and leaf hinged thereto, the latter being in its vertical position; Fig. 2, a similar cross-sectional view showing the leaf raised and supported by my leaf-support; Fig. 2, a bottom View of a table; Fig. 3, a plan view of a portion of said leaf-support in its locked position; Fig. l, a side and partial sectional view of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, aperspective view of aform of clamping-socket in its open position; Fig. 6, an end view of the said socket clamped about a table-leg, the latter being in section; and Fig. 7, a portion of a center leg and its mountings.

In the transportation of tables and other like articles having legs secured thereto the space required for storing said tables and the accompanying labor of handling the same is considerable, mainly on account of the space and obstruction due to said legs. I propose to provide means whereby the legs of tables and other similar articles may be readily detached therefrom and stored within the easing of the table or other article, whereby the space required for storing the table is much reduced and the articles are much more easily handled by reason of their much more compact condition.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A designates the side and end boards of a table or legs e e on the respective wings E E, allows of bringing the said wings more closely together, and thereby exerts a clamping action upon the inserted leg. The normal tendency of said wings or extensions is to open, and thus allow the ready insertion of the leg. When brought together by the screw F, as shown in Fig. 6, thesaid wings firmly engage by frictional contact with the inserted leg;

Thetop,

but will readily spread apart to allow the withdrawal of the same when the said screw F is loosened. The metal or other material composing the socket will allow of said spring action. Any convenient form of wings other than that shown may be employed; but an open braced frame-work gives sufficient gripping-surface with a minimum of material.

In extension-tables having a central legsupport the latter may be detachably secured thereto by means of a split socket B, secured to the cross-piece A of the table and adapted to receive the tenon or other portion of the central supporting-leg G. A set-screw F, Fig. 7, exerts a pressure on said split socket, acting to close the wings upon thesaid tenon to secure it in place.

For tables having hinged or drop leaves H, I have provided a leaf-support consisting of a bar I, forming one member, and a bar J,-

pivoted thereto at K and to the leaf at L. The bar I is also pivoted at one end Mto the side board A of the table. One of the bars- I, for instance-is provided with a portion 0, extending beyond the pivot K, adapted to engage with a portion of the bar J to prevent operating the pivot K past a certain point, at which the pivots L,.K, and M are substantially in line. A brace for the lid H is thus formed. To prevent accidentally lifting of the brace or support by the knee or otherwise, a gravitating piecePis slidingly mounted on the bar J or otherwise adapted to inelose the projection O and adjacent portion of the opposite bar, with which it is engaged, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. The support is thus locked inits open position; but by rais ing the gravitating piece by hand the members may be readily freed from their locking engagement and assume the position shown in Fig. 1, the piece or collar P being conveniently supported by a pin or stud Q. The bars are locked automatically, however, by simply raising the lid to its horizontal position,when the gravitating piece slides down upon its supporting-bar and locks the members without other assistance. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the extension 0 fits in a socket between the bifurcations at the pivot K. Any other convenient form of connection and locking-piece actuated by gra ity may, however, be employed. I do not wish to limit myself to the exact form and construction herein illustrated.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be observed that the wings of the clamping-socket are cutaway to give free access to the screws at one end of the angle portions.

Having thus fully described my invent-ion, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 1 1. In a table, a rectangular clamping-socket consisting of bracing portions at right angles to each other and directly connected together .to adapt them to be secured to the side and end portions of said table at the junction thereof and wing portions projecting toward each other from opposite edges of saidbracing portions, thereby forming the remaining sides of the rectangular socket for the tableleg, and means to compress said wing portions on said leg and effect a detachable engagement therewith.

2. In a table, a clamping-socketconsisting of three bracing-webs,'all extending from a common point and each at right angles to the other two, whereby they may be secured to the top, side, and end portions of a table to brace the joining parts thereof, and wing portions extending outward from opposite bracing portions, their outer edges being adjacent to each other, and thus constituting a rectangular socket to receive the shoulder of the table-leg, and a clamping-screw mounted in said outer edges of the wing portions to bring said wing portions near together without acting on the said bracing portions, whereby the corner portions of the table are firmly held and braced and the leg is detachably secured 

